dfusion

dfusion We innovate science-driven solutions to advance health and well-being. We are interested in a broad span of possibilities.

Science-Driven Behavioral Health Solutions

dfusion and its partners develop, test, evaluate, scale, and disseminate innovative solutions in the health and education arenas. We also offer consultation services and provide professional development opportunities to the field. We put the Diffusion of Innovation model to work in new and practical ways, building our capacity to expand implementation of both promising and proven interventions. Through our projects, dfusion examines and promotes the steps necessary to adopt healthier behaviors and identifies effective strategies to support every stage of the adoption process. We bring particular focus to health, risk and protective factors affecting youth development, economic opportunity, and technology learning and career paths.

Here's a question worth asking: when do students actually use mean, median, and mode after a test?When they're comparing...
03/09/2026

Here's a question worth asking: when do students actually use mean, median, and mode after a test?
When they're comparing ticket prices across seating sections to figure out the best deal. When they're evaluating a player's impact score before a draft. When they're deciding whether a #12 seed is worth picking in their bracket.
March Mathness — the free curriculum from STEMPlay Labs — builds every lesson around exactly this kind of real-world reasoning. Students aren't practicing math for a grade. They're using math to compete, predict, and win.
Seven lessons. Grades 5–8. Free through March 18.
Because math was always the language of the real world. Now students can see it.
📥 Download free →
https://dhxaj.share.hsforms.com/2whQ6o7biT-a_z9Ytybv7Ig

S*x ed teaches ALL five SEL competencies. Every. Single. One.Self-awareness? ✓ Understanding your values and emotions ar...
03/05/2026

S*x ed teaches ALL five SEL competencies. Every. Single. One.
Self-awareness? ✓ Understanding your values and emotions around s*xuality
Self-management? ✓ Impulse control in intimate situations
Social awareness? ✓ Empathy and perspective-taking in relationships
Relationship skills? ✓ Communication, consent, boundaries
Responsible decision-making? ✓ Evaluating consequences, planning for the future
So why don't schools recognize s*xual health education as one of their most comprehensive SEL programs?
The disconnect isn't about content. It's about communication.
While educators know they're teaching these competencies, administrators often don't see s*x ed on their SEL initiative lists. District wellness committees don't automatically include it. SEL frameworks get implemented without acknowledging this obvious overlap.
Here's what needs to change:
S*x educators need to actively make these connections visible. Create alignment documents. Use competency-based language. Show up where SEL conversations happen. Position outcomes as the transferable life skills they are.
Because the evidence is there. The methodology is proven. The skills are being taught.
We just need to speak the language schools already value.
Our new blog breaks down exactly how to reposition s*xual health education within modern SEL frameworks—with practical strategies for educators and administrators.
Link in bio for the full post 🔗
What would change if schools fully recognized s*x ed as essential SEL? Drop your thoughts below 👇
*xEducation

The 13th Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day is Tuesday, March 10. Did you know that worldwide, less than 10% of peop...
03/03/2026

The 13th Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day is Tuesday, March 10. Did you know that worldwide, less than 10% of people experiencing Gambling Disorder seek treatment for it? Screening is a low-cost way to raise awareness and help people learn when their gambling has crossed a line. To get more people thinking about their relationship with gambling, you can share the 3-question Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen.

What does it take to make a student say math went from their least favorite subject to something they actually look forw...
03/02/2026

What does it take to make a student say math went from their least favorite subject to something they actually look forward to?Turns out: real data, friendly competition, and a little March Madness.STEMPlay Labs' March Mathness gives grades 5–8 students real NCAA tournament statistics and asks them to do what analysts do — predict, calculate, and defend their reasoning. Seven lesson plans covering probability, algebra, and data analysis, all built around the tournament they're already watching.

Free for educators through March 18. All 7 lessons, no cost.📥 Grab your free download →
https://dhxaj.share.hsforms.com/2whQ6o7biT-a_z9Ytybv7Ig

Big news from dfusion's research lab — and the results are reshaping how we train educators for some of the most importa...
02/25/2026

Big news from dfusion's research lab — and the results are reshaping how we train educators for some of the most important conversations happening in classrooms today.
Our MPC: VISTA Phase 1 pilot study just published in a SAGE journal, and the findings? Virtual simulation training doesn't just match traditional in-person training for s*xual health educators — in many cases, it surpasses it.

8 out of 9 key teaching measures. Equivalent or better outcomes. With a prototype.

Here's what that means for the thousands of students learning through Making Proud Choices! nationwide:
✅ Teachers who are better prepared
✅ Consistent curriculum fidelity — no matter where an educator lives
✅ Psychological safety to practice difficult conversations without risk
✅ Access no longer limited by geography or budget

The full MPC: VISTA platform launches in 2026, following a nationwide randomized controlled trial.

This is what happens when game-based learning meets evidence-based prevention. And we're just getting started.

🔗 Read the full blog post — link in bio.
*xEd

Science in action.Our CEO Tamara Kuhn reminds us why we do what we do: bridging the gap between research and real-world ...
02/19/2026

Science in action.
Our CEO Tamara Kuhn reminds us why we do what we do: bridging the gap between research and real-world impact.
At dfusion, we're turning evidence-based science into technology that transforms lives—from s*xual health education to environmental literacy through our STEMPlay Labs game-based learning.

Because science isn't meant to sit on a shelf. It's meant to create change.

Disco Dragons are crushing it! 🐉🎮Middle school math just got a major upgrade. Fantasy Sports Math League turns problem-s...
02/18/2026

Disco Dragons are crushing it! 🐉🎮
Middle school math just got a major upgrade. Fantasy Sports Math League turns problem-solving into team competition—and students are here for it.
When math meets fantasy sports, magic happens:
✨ Students solve real problems to advance their teams
📊 Data visualization becomes second nature
🏆 Every equation earns points for their squad
🎯 Teachers get instant insights into student understanding

From computational errors to conceptual breakthroughs, FSML tracks it all while keeping students engaged and motivated.
Because math shouldn't be boring. It should be strategic, competitive, and connected to the real world.

Ready to level up your STEM classroom? Link in bio 👆

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"We don't guess what works—we run randomized controlled trials."Our CEO Tamara Kuhn reveals the rigorous science behind ...
02/11/2026

"We don't guess what works—we run randomized controlled trials."Our CEO Tamara Kuhn reveals the rigorous science behind STEMPlay Labs and why game-based learning demanded its own dedicated division within dfusion.After 30+ NIH-funded studies, Tamara has lived by one principle: research should create tangible impact, not collect dust in journals. Now she's applying that same scientific rigor to prove play-based learning isn't a luxury—it's essential.The transformation she's witnessed? Students who'd been labeled "not math people" discovering they can analyze NFL statistics and calculate probabilities with confidence. That's not just improved performance—that's fundamentally changed identity.With only 28% of 8th graders proficient in math, we're facing a crisis that demands more than traditional approaches. Tamara explains how decades of behavioral health research translates into games that actually work.Read her full story: [LINK]

HALFTIME HOMEWORK? MAKE IT AWESOME! 🌟While fans gear up for the big game, get your students excited about STEAM with our...
02/06/2026

HALFTIME HOMEWORK? MAKE IT AWESOME! 🌟
While fans gear up for the big game, get your students excited about STEAM with our Football Math Extension Activities!
📲 Available NOW on TeachersPayTeachers
🎯 Instant digital download
⚡️ Ready to use immediately
🏆 Student-tested, teacher-approved
Don't fumble this opportunity to make learning as exciting as the Super Bowl!
Link in bio ➡️

S*x ed has been teaching 21st century skills this whole time. We just haven't been talking about it that way. 👀Think abo...
02/06/2026

S*x ed has been teaching 21st century skills this whole time. We just haven't been talking about it that way. 👀
Think about it:
When students practice setting boundaries → That's social-emotional learning
When they analyze media messages about relationships → That's critical thinking
When they plan for their future goals → That's career readiness
When they develop communication skills → That's what every employer says they need
The evidence-based content has always been solid. But the conversation around s*x ed got stuck in deficit-based language while the rest of K-12 moved on to competency frameworks.
So what happens when we update how we talk about it?
✨ Administrators see how it connects to school priorities
✨ Students recognize the transferable skills they're building
✨ Communities understand this is youth development, not just risk reduction
Our latest blog explores this shift—from why it matters to exactly how to do it.
Because when we position s*xual health education using the frameworks schools already value, we make it impossible to ignore.
Full post at link in bio 💙
*xEd

GAME DAY = LEARNING DAY! 🎓Get your students hyped for the Super Bowl while tackling STEAM concepts! Our Fantasy Sports M...
02/04/2026

GAME DAY = LEARNING DAY! 🎓Get your students hyped for the Super Bowl while tackling STEAM concepts! Our Fantasy Sports Math League Extension Activities bring the excitement of football into your classroom with hands-on challenges that score big on engagement.📊 Stats analysis • 🧮 Math operations • 🎯 Strategy building • 📈 Data visualizationTouch down on our TeachersPayTeachers store and grab these playoff-ready resources!Link in bio 👆

S*x education uses evidence-based methods. It develops critical life skills. It supports youth development.So why are we...
01/28/2026

S*x education uses evidence-based methods. It develops critical life skills. It supports youth development.
So why are we still talking about it like it's 1995? 🤔
Our new blog post breaks down how to reframe s*xual health education using the same 21st century skills framework that drives everything else in K-12.
Spoiler: We're not changing the proven interventions. We're just speaking the language schools already value.
Swipe to learn more, then head to the link in bio for the full post ➡️
*xEducation

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